Xi's Delhi visit could be the big brick at BRICS meet

Xi Jinping's forthcoming visit to India for the BRICS summit could represent a significant milestone in the bloc's efforts to transition from a platform for political dialogue into a group capable of taking concrete economic actions. The Chinese leader is expected to arrive with a substantial delegation of around 400 officials, business representatives and support staff, signaling preparations for discussions that extend beyond the formal agenda.

Since the 2020 border clash, the relationship between India and China has been characterized by strategic distrust, despite efforts at stabilisation. However, over the past two years, both countries have gradually restored high-level engagement. If the Delhi summit results in further progress in bilateral relations, it could potentially remove one of the most significant obstacles that has hindered BRICS from progressing beyond political messaging into a group that can make concrete decisions.

The potential visit underscores the importance of the India-China relationship within BRICS, as both countries are the bloc's largest economies and have the capacity to drive major initiatives. While their cooperation is necessary but not sufficient for action, it could be crucial for advancing major proposals on financial cooperation, such as the linking of payment systems and interoperability involving Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).